‘King Of The Zombies': Edgar Wright pays tribute to Night Of The Living Dead director George A Romero

Edgar Wright has paid tribute to Night Of The Living Dead director George A Romero after his death at the age of 77.The creator of the classic horror films that satirised society died on Sunday after a brief battle with lung cancer, his manager said.Wright, whose film Shaun Of The Dead is a riff on …

17 July, 2017 04:23

Edgar Wright has paid tribute to Night Of The Living Dead director George A Romero after his death at the age of 77.

The creator of the classic horror films that satirised society died on Sunday after a brief battle with lung cancer, his manager said.

Wright, whose film Shaun Of The Dead is a riff on Romero’s classics, joined science fiction writer Stephen King and other Hollywood stars in marking their respects.

Writing on his website, Wright said he owes his career to the “King Of The Zombies”.

Romero cast King in 1980s films Knightriders and Creepshow, which King wrote.

He said: “Sad to hear my favourite collaborator – and good old friend – George Romero has died. George, there will never be another like you.”

Manager Chris Roe said the “gentle giant” died listening to the score of one of his favourite films, The Quiet Man, with his wife Suzanne and their daughter Tina.

“He died peacefully in his sleep, following a brief but aggressive battle with lung cancer, and leaves behind a loving family, many friends, and a film-making legacy that has endured, and will continue to endure, the test of time,” he added.

Director and actor Eli Roth praised Romero for using the genre to combat racism while Get Out director Jordan Peele tweeted: “Romero started it.”

You can trace a direct line from NOTLD to Get Out. And…Romero created the modern zombie. The infectious bite. Shoot the head. Everything.